Presiding Deities and types of Shraddha

Contents

1. Presiding deities of Shraddha

1.1 Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan

1.2. Vasu-Rudra-Aditya

2. Types of Shraddha

2.1 Main and commonly known types

2.2 Other types

 

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1. Presiding Deities of Shraddha

1.1 Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan

Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan are Deities of ancestors’ souls. They are referenced in the ritual of Shraddha.

1.2 Vasu-Rudra-Aditya

1.‘Shraddha is associated with the benevolent Deities Vasu, Rudra and Aditya of the ancestors’ souls. The mantras chanted during the Shraddha and the rites performed enables one to connect to these Deities.’ (6)

2. The deceased person for whom the ritual of Shraddha is being performed, is considered as a follower of Vasu, his parents are considered as followers of Rudra and his grand parents are considered as followers of Aditya. Therefore during Shraddha, the names of father, grandfather and great grandfather (or mother, grandmother and great grandmother) are pronounced as representatives of Vasu-Rudra-Aditya respectively.

 

2. Types of Shraddha

2.1 Main and commonly known types

Matsya Puran mentions ‘नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविध श्राद्ध मुख्यते ।’, meaning, primarily there are three types of Shraddha – one performed daily, periodically and with purpose (Kamya). In addition to these, Yamasmruti defines Nandi Shraddha and Parvan Shraddha as additional main types.

2.1.1 Daily Shraddha

The ritual of Shraddha performed daily is known as Daily Shraddha. This Shraddha can be performed just by offering water or sesame seeds to deceased ancestors.

2.1.2 Periodic Shraddha

The Shraddha performed for deceased ancestors with a single objective and other such types fall under periodic Shraddha.

2.1.3 Purpose oriented (Kamya) Shraddha

Shraddha performed for achieving a specific objective is termed as purpose oriented (Kamya) Shraddha.

From the point of view of deriving fruitful result, if the Shraddha is performed on a specific day, date (as per Hindu calendar) and taking into consideration the position of stars (nakshatra), then the desired result is achieved. The details are given below :

A. Day and the derived result of the Shraddha

Day	Fruitful results of shraddha
Monday	Good fortune
Tuesday	Victory
Wednesday	Fulfilment of desire
Thursday	Obtaining knowledge
Friday	Acquiring wealth
Saturday	Long life
Sunday	Health

B. Date (as per Hindu calendar) and the derived result of the Shraddha

Date of performing Shraddha	Result derived from the Shraddha
First day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Gaining a good fowl and being able to give birth to a healthy baby boy.
Second day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Conceiving a baby girl
Third day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Acquiring a horse, acquiring fame
Fourth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Acquiring a lot of inferior animals
Fifth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Having a lot of good looking male children
Sixth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Conceiving bright male child
Seventh day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Acquiring a farm or land
Eighth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Obtaining success in business
Ninth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Acquiring animals like horses
Tenth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Expansion of cattle, acquiring animals with two humps
Eleventh day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Acquiring utensils, clothes and a scholar male child.
Twelfth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Acquiring gold, silver etc.
Thirteenth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	Gaining superiority within the community
Fourteenth day in Hindu Lunar fortnight	The persons, who have died due to the stroke of a weapon or on a battlefield, get momentum to attain a higher sub-plane. Gaining good citizens.
Full moon / no moon night	Fulfillment of all wishes

Note 1 : Except full moon night, all other dates that belong to the dark fortnight and corresponding dates in dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapad, bestow special benefit.

B.1 Bhishmashtami Shraddha

If one is not able to conceive or is facing problems of abortion, then for the well being of the foetus, Shraddha is performed or offering of water is made to Bhishmacharya, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight (Bhishmashtami) in the Hindu calendar month of Magha.

C. Position of stars and the derived result of the Shraddha

Position of star while performing Shraddha	Result derived from the Shraddha
Kruttika	Acquiring a heavenly abode for oneself and ones son.
Rohini	Conceiving male child
Mruga	Acquiring radiance of Brahman (Brahmatej)
Aardra	Providing momentum to the soul of an evildoer, action transformed into supernatural power.
Punarvasu	Obtaining wealth or land
Pushya	Improvement in strength
Ashlesha	Conceiving a male child with brave character, fulfillment of a wish
Magha	Gaining superiority within the community, a long married life
Purva	Good luck, conceiving a male child, elimination of sin
Uttara	Good luck, conceiving a male child, elimination of sin
Hasta	Fulfillment of a wish, gaining superiority within the community
Chitra	Conceiving a handsome male child, conceiving ample male children
Swati	Earning profit in business, earning success.
Vishakha	Conceiving ample male children, acquiring gold
Anuradha	Acquiring a kingdom (attaining position of minister etc), acquiring friends
Jyeshtha	Acquiring superiority, authority, wealth and self-confidence, acquiring a kingdom
Mula	Obtaining good health, acquiring a farm or land
Purvashadha	Achieving good fame, successful journey up to the sea limit
Uttarashada	Getting relieved from grievances, fulfillment of all wishes, achieving good hearing ability
Shravan	Achieving best progress in subtle plane, superiority
Ghanishtha	Acquiring kingdom (attaining position of minister etc), fulfillment of all wishes
Shavataraka	Achieving supernatural powers in medical practice, acquiring metal other than gold and silver.
Purvabhadrapada	Acquiring a flock of sheep or lamb, acquiring metal other than gold and silver.
Uttarabhadrapada	Acquiring cattle, acquiring sanctified and good premises
Revati	Acquiring utensils and clothes, acquiring cattle
Ashwini	Acquiring horses
Bharni	Acquiring a long life

Note 1 : When an evildoer dies and Shraddha is performed for him at the time of Aadra star, for imparting momentum to its soul, the desired benefit can be derived.

Special note : In the table given in point 2 and 3, multiple benefits are indicated for a single date or star position. These are specified based on references obtained from different books.

2.1.4 Nandi Shraddha

The ritual of Shraddha performed during the start of any joyous ceremony and performance of any of the 16 religious rites, and recitation of specific mantras for success of the ceremony is called Nandi Shraddha. In this ritual Satyavasu (or kratudaksha) are the vishve deities and the father-grandfather-great grandfather, mother-grandmother (mother’s mother) – great grandmother (mother’s grandmother) and paternal-grandmother (mother’s mother-in-law) paternal-great grandmother (mother-in-law of mother’s mother-in-law) are invoked.

A. Karmanga Shraddha: This Shraddha is performed during the religious ritual of Garbhadhan.

B. Vruddhi Shraddha: Shraddha performed at the time of birth of a baby.

2.1.5 Parvan Shraddha

The Pindapitruyagna (sacrificial fires related to deceased ancestors) mentioned in the Shrout lineage is to be performed by a Sagnik (one who performs the ritual of Agnihotra). Alternative to this is the Parvan Shraddha mentioned in the Gruhya sutras. Once the deceased ancestors get listed as Parvans, then this shraddha is performed for them. Ekparvan (single Parvan), dviparvan (double Parvan), triparvan (triple Parvan) are the three varieties of this Shraddha. Mahalay Shraddha and Tirtha Shraddha are the types of Parvan Shraddha.

A. Mahalay Shraddha(fortnightly) : It is a Parvan Shraddha performed starting from the eleventh day of dark fortnight of Bhadrapad (Hindu calendar month) till the no moon night.

B. Tirtha Shraddha: The ritual of Shraddha performed at Holy places like Prayag or at the banks of a sacred river is termed as Tirtha Shraddha. While performing Tirtha Shraddha, all the Parvans of Mahalay are invoked.

2.2. Other types

Apart from the main types mentioned above there are 96 types of Shraddha namely, 12 no moon nights, 4 eras, 14 manvantars, 12 sankrants, 12 vaidhruti, 12 vyatipat, 15 mahalays, 5 first, 5 ashtak and 5 anvashtake. (Detailed information about these is present in the books related to science of Dharma.)

Brief information about few of the other types of Shraddha

2.2.1. Goshthi Shraddha

The Shraddha performed by the group of priests (Brahmins) and scholars at a holy place with the intention that, ‘Deceased ancestors’ souls should get satisfied and let happiness and prosperity preside’, or while discussing the topic of Shraddha, if one gets inspired all of a sudden and performs Shraddha, then such Shraddha is termed as Goshthi Shraddha.

2.2.2 Shuddhi Shraddha

Offering food to priests (Brahmins) for acquiring purity is called as Shuddhi Shraddha. This is the ‘undergoing of punishment’ part of Shraddha.

2.3.3 Pushti Shraddha

Shraddha performed for increasing physical strength and prosperity is called as Pushti Shraddha.

2.2.4 Ghruta Shraddha (Yatra Shraddha)

Shraddha performed using ghee (clarified butter), in remembrance of deceased ancestors, before embarking on a journey to holy places with the objective of completing the journey without any obstacles is called Ghruta Shraddha.

2.2.5 Dadhi Shraddha

Shraddha performed after returning from a journey to holy places is termed as Dadhi Shraddha.

2.2.6. Ashtaka Shraddha

Shraddha performed on 8th day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu calendar month. Ashtaka means the 8th day of bright fortnight of any Hindu calendar month. During the era of Vedas, the Ashtaka Shraddha used to be performed specifically on the 8th day of bright fortnight of Margashirsha, Poush, Magh and Falgun months. It was a practice to offer vegetables,bondas, sesame seeds, honey, rice kheer, fruits and underground vegetables to deceased ancestors. Vishvedev, Fire (Agni), Sun, Prajapati, Ratri, Stars (nakshatra), season (rutu) etc. were considered as Deities of Shraddha.

2.2.7. Daivik Shraddha

Shraddha performed with the objective of obtaining the grace of God is termed as Daivik Shraddha.

2.2.8. Hiranya Shraddha

This Shraddha is performed without offering food and only by offering money (dakshina) to the priests (Brahmins). If food is in scarcity, then gold, equivalent to four times the cost of the food grains, should be offered.

2.2.9. Hasta Shraddha

Shraddha performed by offering food to the priests (Brahmins) designated for Shraddha. If cooked food is not available then the Shraddha is performed by offering money or dry food grains.

2.2.10. Atma Shraddha

Those people who do not have children or whose children are atheists, they should perform Shraddha for themselves when they are alive. The rites for such Shraddha are explained in the science of spirituality.

2.2.11. Chata Shraddha

When Brahmaṇs are not available to represent Deities and the pitars during the Shraddha rites, darbha is placed at their designated place in the rite. They (darbha) are termed as ‘chata’ (or ‘Darbhabatu’. Since the shraddha is performed by placing the chata, it is termed as chata Shraddha.

Even though various types of Shraddha are mentioned above, based on the calendar days, the Shraddha performed for a dead person from the first day to the eleventh day, monthly shraddha, Sapindikaran Shraddha, Shraddha performed on one-year completion, Shraddha performed every year from the second year and Mahalay Shraddha are the only ones that are commonly practiced.

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy Text ‘Shraddha (Importance and the underlying science)’